2/11/2005

Quite Long hoep everyone would enjoy reading this. thanks

Part 2 - CANNOT BE

"Opo, Tita." She looked around. Not muchhas changed in this house. She remembersspending her college days in this house. Sheremembers sinking into Tita Doris' armswhen her mom died. She remembers onlygood things about this woman. She can'tremember a time when she had been unkindto her and yes, she loves her like her ownmother. "Iha, sabihan mo nga yang si Miguel.Sabihin mo 'wag padalos-dalosmagdesisyon." "Po?" "Mama naman. Let Bearest. I'll tell her everything tomorrow." Miguelinterrupted his mother before she can spillthe beans. "Ha? What was that all about?"Bea was curious. "Bukas na lang." "Okay.Tita, if it's okay I'll go rest now." She huggedher, and proceeded to climb the stairs.Miguel followed her carrying herluggage. "Alam mo I missed this house. Uysino ba si Sugar? Tsaka bakit parangworried nanay mo sa iyo?" "Bukas na. Sugaris having lunch here." "Hmmm, intriguing,pero sige. Bukas na." They were bothstanding as the door to the guestroom. "Alam mo, it's really good to be back inthis house. I'll see you tomorrow." Tita Doris'10:00 am. She woke up, sunlight flooding herbedroom. She was able to rest. She got up,arranged the bed sheets and took a nice,cold shower. Minutes later, she was down atthe garden having brunch with Tita Doris. "Hi!Tita. Where is Miguel?" "Sinundo siSugar." "Sino ba yang Sugar na yan? Nai-intriga na ako." "Iha, I'll let Miguel tell you whoSugar is. Promise me something, though.Whatever happens you'll always be mydaughter, Bea?" She felt scared. Why wasTita Doris suddenly serious? "Oponaman." "Anyway, iha. I heard from Miguelyour boyfriend sounded like he was going topropose a week ago. Did he propose?" Bealooked at her hands, bare of anyengagement ring. She looked at Tita Dorisand smiled. Before she could answer, Miguelshowed up. With him is a woman she hadnot seen before. She was of medium frame,shoulder length hair and looked veryfeminine. "Sugar, the sister I never had, Bea.Bea, Sugar, my fiance`." It felt as if somebodyhad thrown cold water on her. His what?Blood rushed to her head. She blushed. Hercheeks felt very warm. She couldn't swallow.Her heart beating a hundred beats perminute. "Your what?" She looked at Miguel,blushing then suddenly white as withshock. "I'm sorry, Sugar but this is quite asurprise. Miguel has never mentioned you inany of his e-mails," she said as she lookedat Sugar with a confused look. She looked atTita Doris, she looked back as if she wasconsoling her. "Yeah, I got engaged. I'mkeeping my promise. I'm getting married onSaturday. O di ba you're here so in essenceI've kept my promise." She managed to smilefaintly. She hugged Miguel and congratulatedhim. She even managed to tell Sugar "Yougot a catch here, girl. Take good care of himor else I will snatch him under your nose." Itsounded as if she was just joking, turningover a very important possession to it's nextowner. In the deepest recesses of herperson, she knew she meant it. "He told mea lot of nice things about you." Sugar said,smiling at her as if they had been friends forthe longest time. "I'm sure he has." Lunchwas served. All of Bea's favorite Filipinodishes. She and Sugar spent time chattingthe afternoon away, looking at Bea's andMiguel's college photos and yearbooks. Shefound out that Sugar likes most of the thingsshe does. They both came from the samehigh school. As she tried to get to knowSugar better during their afternoon chat, sherealized that not only was she perfect forMiguel, she also seemed like the best galpal Bea could find. They talked about thewedding details, the dress, the ring, theshoes, the tiara. They like almost the sameplaces, the same styles, the same shops.She told Sugar they should do shoppingmarathon together. Had it been another day,she would be telling herself that this is reallya great opportunity to find someone whounderstands her shopping needs.

Except that this is not one of those days?Except that this woman, this perfect, femininegirlfriend was Miguel's fiance`. Bea's phonerings. The name Boyfriend flashes. "Youshould really get that" Sugar told Bea. "Yeah,I guess I should. Hello? Yes? I'm good. I'mhere at Miguel's. Oh I have in front of meSugar, Miguel's fiance`." The words almostgot stuck in her throat, but she still managedto give Sugar a smile. "Listen, I'll call youlater. I have very good news for you." Miguelsat down beside Bea. Sugar was looking atthem and asked "So tell me? Was therenever a time the two of you were more thanPlatonic?" Bea and Miguel looked at eachother then looked at their own hands.Miguel's gaze turned to Sugar. Heanswered "Of course not. Bea and I werenever like that." "As in?" Sugar inquired. "LOL,oo naman. She was a handful. Too much tohandle for me. I can't keep up with her. She'snever stands still." Miguel looked at Bea andsmiled, his eyes turning into slits as hisdimples gloriously show. "I guess that's theway for you. But not for Edward." Bea replied,with a little hint of disappointment. "Okay langyun. Edward is tough enough." Miguel wasstill smiling. "Wait, speaking of Edward. Ineed to call him." Bea left the garden andwent up to her room to call Edward. "Hello?Edward. Here goes. Yes. The answer isYes." ********* The wedding went well. It wasone of the most elegant weddings she hadseen. Sugar had everything covered and shewas a very beautiful, blushing bride. "I,Miguel, take you, Sugar, as my friend andlove, beside me and apart from me, inlaughter and in tears, in conflict andtranquility, asking that you be no other thanyourself, love what I know of you, trustingwhat I do not know yet, in all the ways that lifemay find us." Bea felt a stab of pain hittingher heart. She slowly got up, walked awayfrom the spectators. Tears streaming downher flushed cheeks. ********** Bea is onceagain on her way to the airport. Miguel isdriving for her, this time with a wedding ringon his left finger. "Hay, here we go again. I'mdriving you to the airport. Kailan na namankaya tayo magkikita?" "Ewan ko. Tell mesomething," her tone all too serious. "Whatwas it that you love about Sugar? How didyou know she was the one?" Miguel justsmiled. "Dali na ano? Malay mo I need todecide in a couple of days diba?" "You knowwhat I love about her? The same things Iloved about you before. The only difference isthat she's not as ambitious as you are. Whenyou left for New York two years ago, I knew Idon't have a place in the life you've chosen. Idon't blame you for that. You're good in yourfield and I thought to myself that it's your rightto move on without me. Moving away was adecision you made for yourself. I know thissounds silly and you might nag me about itbut I found the better version of you in Sugar.She's so much like you in so many ways butthe only difference is she loves me morethan you do." She wanted to cry the tears shehad kept as he witnessed him say his vows,but kept her composure. She just chuckled alaugh. How could he move on without her?Why was it easy for him and not for her? Asshe got off the car, she gave Miguel one lasthug. This time she felt her heart heavy. "Iguess this is goodbye?" she toldMiguel. "Wait, I'm not letting you out until youanswer question. Did Edward propose?" Beashowed Miguel her left hand. In it was a onecarat diamond solitaire ring set inplatinum. "Yes." Miguel let out a sigh andcongratulated her. As Miguel turned his gazefrom the steering wheel to Bea's face, hesaw a single tear fall from her right eye andthen she said, "If it gives any consolation.Edward was the best version of you that I canfind in New York."